Numerous Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) commented during the debate and adoption of a Joint Resolution on the issue of Ramil Safarov in the European Parliament’s (EP) Plenary session on 13 September .
The debate was mainly on the case of Azeri Ramil Safarov, who was recently transferred from Hungary to Azerbaijan after serving a prison sentence for the murder of an Armenian officer. There were rumours amongst some MEPs that political actors and Armenia were using the debate to switch attention from the realities of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. There were opinions that it was carried out in accordance with international and Azerbaijani law.
“The ALDE Group in the EP decided not to sign the resolution on the case of Ramil Safarov, since the Azerbaijani authorities have not violated international law. The absence of any results after 20 years of work indicates that the OSCE Minsk Group needs a reshuffle. In order to find a balance in the whole negotiation process, the French Co-Chair should be replaced by the EU, which has an historic chance to resolve this ‘frozen’ conflict.” said Kriistina Ojuland (ALDE, Estonia).
They also focused on the ongoing tensions in the South Caucasus. In this regard, Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek (Greens/ALE) pointed out that she “acknowledges the frustration in Azerbaijan about the lack of substantial progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.”
European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou councluded the debate by noting that this case has the potential to worsen the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as well as potentially the Eastern partnership agenda.
